NL Central

NL West

Behind Roy Oswalt's dazzling seven innings, the Astros shook off the shock of their Game 5 loss and earned the franchise's first trip to the World Series. Brad Ausmus had three hits and Jason Lane smacked a solo homer for the National League champions.

The Cardinals couldn't get their bats going to stave off elimination in the NLCS, and Mark Mulder allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings of the final game at Busch Stadium. Pinch-hitter John Rodriguez plated St. Louis' only run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.